Can sterilizer and cleaner



April 10, 1934. B. oLsoN CAN STEHILIZER AND CLEANER Filed Feb. 13, 1931 vllllln llc Patented Apr. 10, 1934 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to apparatus for sterilizing and cleaning milk and cream cans and especially to an improved nozzle construction in association with the usual bowl or basin which supports the can in inverted position.

Milk and cream cans are of considerable height, the larger sizes exceeding 21/2 feet in height and with most devices commercially used at this time, especially for steaming or sterilizing the cans,

the upstanding nozzle, which is usually mounted concentrically of the bowl or basin, projects only a short distance into the can with the result that the bottom portions of the can are not thoroughly sterilized and cleaned when the can is inverted upon the bowl.

It is an object of my present invention to provide a simple and highly eincient sterilizer and cleaner for tall cans such as are used in the handling milk and cream, which is provided with a longitudinally and upwardly projectable nozzle,

the delivery end of which is adapted to be disposed well Within the inverted can when the device is in operation thereby discharging hot fluid, such as steam or hot water against the bottom portions of the can, the discharged fluid building up a pressure within the can and thoroughly sterilizing and cleansing the entire body and neck of the can in its passage downwardly through the open end of the can.

It is a further object to provide, in an apparatus of the class described, a longitudinally projectable nozzle slidably mounted in the standard and bowl of the device and automatically extended to projected position by the pressure from the fluid g5 utilized for sterilizing or cleaning purposes.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of my invention applied to a combined can and cover steamer or sterilizer, some of the dotted lines indicating a milk can and cover for the same supported by the bowls of the device, and

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through the nozzle and tubular conduit wherein the nozzle is slidably mounted.

As shown in Fig. 1, the apparatus includes a heavy upright standard or pedestal S carrying the bowl or basin B in which an inverted cream can C is supported, the bowl B usually having a reticulated platform R as indicated by the dotted lines, on which the neck of the cream can rests.

In the particular apparatus illustrated a second basin X is integrally formed or rigidly connected with bowl B, projecting laterally therefrom and communicating therewith, bowl X having a drain D and being of a proper size to nicely surround and support a milk can cover Y.

A conduit 3 is connected with a source of hot fluid supply, such as steam or hot water under pressure and is provided with a valve 4 for controlling the supply to both the milk can steamer and the cover steamer and bowl X. Conduit 3 as shown extends downwardly and is coupled at its lower end with a short cross pipe 6 which may extend through standard S and be suitably supported thereby. A drain valve 5 is communication with the outer end of pipe 6. A branch conduit l is connected with conduit 3 preferably at a point below valve 4, said conduit having an up-turned end extending through basin X and carrying a. suitable stationary nozzle 8 disposed concentrically oi' basin X. This nozzle, as has been stated, is for the purpose of cleaning milk can covers and forms no essential part of my present invention. A regulating valve 7a may be provided in conduit 7.

Within the standard S a vertical tube 9 of considerably larger diameter than conduit 3 is mounted, said tube extending aXiaily of the milk can bowl B and being closed at its upper and lower ends by means of caps 10 and 11 respectively. The lower end of tube 9 is connected with the cross pipe 6 of the hot iiuid supply. Within said tube an elongated tubular nozzle l2 is slidably mounted, said nozzle being of considerably smaller diameter than tube 9 and having an enlargement or piston 12a at its lower end which slidably engages the interior of tube 9. The upper end oi nozzle 12 normally projects slightly above the upper edge of the bowl B and is provided with a restricted discharge port 12b which may be of any suitable formation, as desired. The lower end of the elongated nozzle l2 is open to communicate with the lower portion or" the vertical tube 9 and the top cap 10 of tube 9 is provided with a central aperture slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of tubular nozzle 12 to permit free sliding movement of the nozzle.

A coiled cushioning spring 13 is dispf sed in the lower end of vertical tube 1l adapted to yieldably support the nozzle l2 by abutment with the lower end of the piston portion 12a. A second coiled spring 14 surrounds the body of nozzle 12 and is disposed just above the piston end 12a adapted to be abutted against the cap member rcvided in Operation The operation of my improved device may be briey described as follows:

A milk or cream can or other container is disposed, as indicated in the dotted lines of Fig. l, upon the support R which is mounted in bowl B. The peripheral edge of the neck of the can is disposed within bowl B a short distance below the upper edges of the bowl.

The steam, hot water or other heated liuid under pressure is then admitted by opening valve 4, this hot fluid rushing into the enlarged vertical tube 9 and reacting against the flanged lower end or head 12a of the tubular nozzle and immediately projecting the nozzle body upwardly and longitudinally into the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. l with the discharge of the nozzle disposed a few inches below the bottom of the can. In the forcible projection of the nozzle body l2 the cushioning spring 14 strikes against cap 10 breaking the impact and yieldably limiting the upward movement of the nozzle. The steam or hot water or other hot fluid will pass through the nozzle body, being discharged .in the dome or bottom portion of the can and building up throughout the interior of the can a considerable pressure. All fluid must pass downwardly through the neck of the can to discharge into bowl B. The entire can is therefore elliciently sterilized and cleaned in a minimum amount of time. When the steam or other hot fluid is shut olf by manipulating valve 4, gravity immediately causes nozzle body l2 to drop to normal position, yieldably supported upon the cushioning spring 13, whereafter the can C may be lifted and removed from the bowl.

The auxiliary bowl X which communicates with the discharge of bowl B is adapted to support and hold the shallow lid or cover of the can and the hot fluid may be discharged into the interior of said lid by operating a suitable valve '7a provided in the pipe 7. This feature constitutes no part of my present invention and lfurther explanation thereof is therefore unnecessary.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have prowided an improved and emcient sterilizer and cleaner for milk and cream cans and the like by the use of which tall cans may be very thoroughly sterilized and cleaned. The automatically projectable nozzle in cooperation with the bowl and the standard, facilitates the mounting on or removal of the can from the bowl while making provision for spraying or discharging the hot fluid into portions of the can adjacent the closed bottom thereof.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, proportions and arrangement of the parts without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects abo-ve set forth, and in the vnovel parts 'and combinations of parts disclosed and dened in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:-

In apparatus for sterilizing and cleaning cans, a pedestal, a stationary drain bowl mounted on said pedestal, a horizontal support mounted in said drain bowl for receiving the upper end Vof an inverted can or the like, a tubular member eX- tending axially below said support and connected at its lower end with a source of iiuid under pressure, a valve for controlling the admisison of duid into tubular member, an elongated tubular nozzle of smaller diameter than said first mentioned tubular member and mounted therewithin for longitudinal projection from the upper end thereof into the can, said nozzle having open lower end surrounded by an enlargement slidably engaging the interior of said rst mentioned tubular member, an abutment in said first mentioned tubular member below the lower end of said nozzle, a coil spring interposed between said abutment and said nozzle, an abutment at the upper end of said rst mentioned tubular member through which said nozzle projects :and a second coil spring surrounding the lower portion of said tubular nozzle and disposed above said enlargement and normally spacedirom the upper end of said first mentioned tubular member.

BENNETT OLSON. 

